World's largest two-wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp is known for its affordable commuter motorcycles in the Indian market. Now, the company has forayed into the popular 125cc scooter segment with the new Destiny 125. The Hero Destini 125 is launched in the country at a starting price of Rs 54,650 ex-showroom (Delhi) for the base LX variant.

The Hero Destini 125 was revealed at the Auto Expo 2018 as the Duet 125. The overall design of the Destini 125 is reminiscent of the currently sold Duet. But the Hero Destini 125 sports new styling elements that adds to the premium quotient of the scooter.

To find out how the scooter performs on the road, we ride the new Hero Destini 125 and bring you the first ride review of the flagship scooter from Hero MotoCorp.

Design And Styling

The first thing you will notice on the Hero Destini 125 is the front end. Yes, the front profile of the scooter is stylish and the front apron looks premium with the V-shape chrome insert that neatly integrates with the clear turn indicators. The front cowl gets a dual-tone treatment with a black colour insert with Hero branding above the headlamp. The body coloured rear-view mirror complements the overall design of the scooter.

The side profile of the Hero Destini 125 features stylish chrome lining and the Destini 125 branding. The side panel is chiselled in such a way that it integrates seamlessly with the tail light. The exhaust muffler also gets a chrome cover.

The rear section of the Hero Destini 125 looks attractive with the signature tail light design with a tapered end. The rear end also features an external fuel filler cap, a large silver pillion grabrail and black insert above the tail light. The scooter also gets dual-tone seat that adds to the looks of the scooter.

Note: The front chrome insert, side chrome garnish, alloy wheels, body coloured mirrors and the dual-tone seat is available only on the VX variant.

Engine Specifications

The Hero Destini 125 draws power from a new 124.6cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that is based on the 110cc engine that is seen on the Maestro Edge and the Duet. The engine produces 8.70bhp at 6,750rpm and 10.2Nm of torque at 5,000rpm. The engine is mated to a CVT gearbox.

Hero MotoCorp states that the new 125cc engine offers 9 percent higher power output and 17 percent higher torque than the existing 110cc scooter.

Key Features

The new Hero Destini 125 comes with a digital-analogue instrument cluster that relays all the necessary information such as fuel level, service indicator, trip metre, odometer and side stand indicator.

The switchgear quality is decent with a high/low beam switch, indicator toggle switch and horn button on the left side. On the right side, there is an i3S switch that is similar to an engine kill switch and engine start button.

The Hero Destini 125 also gets a multi-function key slot that can be used to open the external fuel filler cap and the seat. The scooter also gets two luggage hooks and a spacious footboard and the under-seat storage space is decent.

The prominent feature of the Hero Destini 125 is the i3S (Idle-start-stop) technology. The Hero Destini becomes the first 125cc scooter to get this technology. The i3S technology automatically turns off the engine when idling, hence, improves the fuel efficiency.

For the first time, the i3S takes 30 seconds to kick in and from then on the i3S system will shut the engine in five seconds during idling. At times this can be irritating, but thanks to the toggle button, the i3S can be completely switched off.

The top-spec VX variant of the Hero Destini 125 gets additional features such as a USB mobile charging port, boot light and alloy wheels.

Ride And Handling

The Hero Destini 125 offers good handling and the engine is powerful enough for daily jaunts around the city. The engine is peppy and the power is delivered in a linear fashion with decent acceleration. The engine is tuned to offer a comfortable ride and there are no vibrations felt.

The Hero Destini 125 offers a plush ride thanks to the ideally tuned suspension. But the front telescopic suspension feels soft and dives-in under hard braking and tackling corners aggressively is a problem with a spongy front end. But it does not affect the handling of the scooter and it soaks up the undulations without any problem.

The seat is spacious and comfortable with an adequate amount of cushion. The spacious footboard aids in a comfortable riding posture.

The Hero Destini 125 is equipped with drum brakes at both the ends with Integrated Braking System (iBS). The iBS works really well and the brakes feel sharp and precise during hard braking. An optional front disc brake would have further improved the braking performance.

Verdict

The Hero Destini 125 has all the ingredients to make it an ideal premium family scooter. The scooter has a right blend of design, features and performance that makes it a practical scooter for daily commuting. But the Hero Destini 125 lacks some features such as LED headlight, fully digital instrument cluster and front disc brake. If you are looking for a premium scooter at an affordable price tag, then the Hero Destini 125 will be a perfect choice.

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